Alpine Garden & Creative projects – Slow Life in Hida, Japan

Infos

• 

  Description

  We are an Australian family of four who have migrated to Hida Furukawa, a beautiful castle town in the Japanese Alps, near Takayama.
  
  This summer, we’re looking for someone to help with two key things:
  - Taking care of our large vegetable field
  - Cooking meals in the house
  
  Our field is beautiful, peaceful, and set against the backdrop of the mountains with a stream running through it. If you're lucky, you might learn some local farming techniques from our kind and knowledgeable neighbours.
  
  The garden is already planted and growing well, but with Adrian (carpenter) heading overseas for work and our daughter away on a gap year in Germany, there’s no one else to look after it. Our son is spending the holidays in Australia, so for most of the time it will be just Kate at home.
  
  We live in a 1960s machiya (traditional Japanese townhouse), which we are slowly renovating into a home, artist-run space, and base for community projects. The house has a shed, studio space, and guest rooms for helpers.
  
  We welcome friendly, practical people who love working outdoors, enjoy cooking, and are happy to contribute to everyday home life in a creative and nature-filled environment.
  
  If you have Japanese language skills or a driver’s license, please include this in the subject line of your message — it’s a big plus!
  
  Note: most of our reviews are from when we ran an artist studio in Melbourne about 5 years ago

• 

  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Bénévolat

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Enseignement

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet
• 

  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  English language
  Planting and gardening
  Renovation of akiya and machiya houses
  Art curation
  Skiing, hiking, cycling, hot springs

• 

  Aide

  MAIN TASKS
  - Taking care of the vegetable field – watering, weeding, harvesting, general care
  - Cooking shared meals (see "Meals" section)
  - Keeping shared spaces tidy and welcoming
  
  Optional tasks depending on your skills and interests
  - Help with a community gluten-free project (admin, communications, photography, or map-making)
  - Assist with creative projects – including 拓本 (taku-hon) print rubbing, landscape installation artwork, or possibly kintsugi
  - Simple DIY support or help during renovations
  
  
  AVERAGE HOURS:
  - 3–5 hours a day for 4 days a week + 1-2 hours on a 5th day
  
  We’re flexible with the schedule and happy to adjust around weather or your travel plans, as long as the veggies in the field are watered & happy.
  
  
  SKILLS WE APPRECIATE
  Most useful:
  
  - Gardening skills or interest in farming
  - Cooking confidence and enjoyment of shared meals
  - Japanese language ability
  - Japanese driver’s license
  
  Also welcome:
  
  - Interest in art or insight into Japanese art scene
  - Experience with admin, websites, photography, or visual design
  - Curiosity about community-based projects

• 

  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Allemand: Intermédiaire
  Japonais: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  We are intensively learning Japanese. We would love to practice! We have lived in Thailand and Japan, so even though English is our first language we try to speak clear "international" English
• 

  Hébergement

  MEALS
  We provide a self-serve breakfast: porridge, cereal, yogurt, toast, tea, coffee, and local Hida milk.
  
  For other meals, we’re looking for someone who loves to cook and enjoys preparing fresh, tasty food for others. When Kate is home, we’d love to share evening meals, and the occassional lunch - and we’ll cover the cost of groceries for the shared meals that you cook.
  
  When Kate is away, you’ll simply prepare meals for yourself with your own groceries. Please note this is not a self-catering household - the arrangement works best when meals are something we enjoy together when possible.
  
  We cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients (including produce from the garden). If you’re a creative cook who finds joy in making food for others, this setup will feel easy and enjoyable.
  
  ACCOMMODATION
  You’ll stay in our 1960s machiya in the heart of Hida Furukawa. The house is comfortable but still under renovation, so some areas may be in progress depending on timing.
  
  We have:
  - 6 bedrooms, with 2 traditional tatami rooms usually used for guests
  - Futon bedding, warm covers, and shared living spaces
  - Opaque screens, not solid walls, separate some rooms (as is typical in Japanese homes)
  - Fans, but no air conditioning (summers are warm but with cool nights)
  - washing machine/drying facilities
  
  Usually, you’ll have your own private space. If we have multiple guests, we’ll talk with everyone beforehand and make sure the arrangement feels comfortable and fair.
  
  LOCATION & PLACE
  Hida Furukawa is a peaceful, creative town surrounded by mountains, rivers, temples, and old wooden buildings. It’s known for its craftsmanship, festivals, and slower pace of life.
  
  The town is:
  - 15 mins by train to Takayama
  - Close enough to Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka for overnight trips
  - Full of great onsen, hiking trails, and quiet cycling routes
  
  You’ll be able to enjoy:
  - 6 bicycles, and possibly access to our car and camping gear, depending on timing
  - Local cafés, izakayas, bakeries, and public baths within walking distance
  - Excellent train and bus connections
  
  
  LANGUAGE
  We speak English (fluent), German (intermediate), and Japanese (beginner).
  
  We are actively learning Japanese - we'd love to practice and exchange language during your stay!
  
  You’ll have opportunities to learn:
  
  - Japanese home cooking
  
  - Local planting/gardening methods
  
  - Art processes like taku-hon and sculpture
  
  - Renovation of traditional Japanese houses
  
  
  HEALTH & SAFETY
  We live with some health vulnerabilities, so we ask that Workawayers are up to date with COVID and flu vaccinations. If you feel unwell before arrival, please let us know and we’ll reschedule. If you get sick during your stay, please have a plan for alternative accommodation.
  
  
  FACILITIES & HOUSE RULES
  - Fast Wi-Fi available in most areas
  
  - No smoking on the property (Note: smoking outside is not allowed in Japan except in designated areas)
  
  - May accept pets (please ask first)
  
  - Camper van parking sometimes available
  
  - We may be able to host digital nomads or students, depending on your work needs
  
  - We’re a family home, not a hotel or guesthouse. We share our home with people who are kind, helpful, and respectful of shared space
  
  - We have a good reputation in our small town & friendly relationships with our lovely neighbours - please take the time to understand the local ways regarding noise, rubbish, bicycle parking, drinking etc
  
  
  CONTACT NOTES
  If you have Japanese language skills or a Japanese driver’s license, please mention this in the subject line of your message.
  
  If we’ve been in touch before — feel free to reach out again. We’ve been off Workaway for a while but are excited to welcome new people this season.

• 

  Autres infos...

  Hida Furukawa is in the middle of one of the most beautiful areas of Japan surrounded by mountains and crystal clear rivers. It's 25 minutes to the bigger and more touristy castle town of Takayama and close enough for overnight trips to Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka and for weekends in Tokyo. Ski fields, wild onsens and rotenburo and stunning hiking trails are within cycling distance.
  
  Public transport is excellent with buses and JR trains. Our place is a short walk to Hida Furakawa station and the cafes, bars, izekayas and shops in town.
  
  Hida is famous for carpentry and crafts and for the abundant nature and snow.

• 

  Informations complémentaires

  • 

    Accès Internet

  • 

    Accès Internet limité

  • 

    Nous avons des animaux

  • 

    Nous sommes fumeurs

  • 

    Familles bienvenues

• 

  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We are very flexible about the timing and amount of Workaway work that people do and are very happy to host students, artists or digital nomads If you don't have much time we can sometimes work out an arrangement We have fast wifi and shared work/ studio space, we also have a shed suitable for work-working or messy art projects too

• 

  Espace pour garer des vans

  We have an off-street parking space but it is sometimes occupied, its possible to park nearby though and we know a bunch of good spots nearby

• 

  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Potentially. It depends on the pet

• 

  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

• 

  Mes animaux

Sécurité du site

Feedback (12)